My Council Keeps Sending People Out Who Don’t Fix Anything – What Can I Do?

If your council keeps sending people out who don’t fix anything, you are not alone and you are not powerless. It is one of the most common complaints we hear from social housing tenants: a repair is reported, someone turns up and nothing actually changes. The damp is still there, the heating still cuts out and that leak still comes back every time it rains.

This cycle of failed visits and broken promises isn’t just frustrating. It can be a breach of your landlord’s legal obligations. And, depending on how long the problem has been going on and the impact it has had on you and your family, you may be entitled to compensation.

Here’s what you need to know.

There are a number of reasons why repairs fail to get properly resolved. In some cases, contractors carry out temporary or cosmetic fixes rather than addressing the root cause of the problem. 

In other cases, different contractors are sent out each time, none of whom have the full picture of what has already been tried. Without joined-up records and clear accountability, the same problem gets ‘investigated’ repeatedly without ever being genuinely fixed.

Whatever the reason, the result is the same – you are left living in a property that is unfit for purpose, often for months or even years at a time.

If your landlord has been made aware of a repair issue and has failed to fix it within a reasonable time, you may have grounds for a housing disrepair claim. This applies even if your landlord has made attempts to repair the problem, provided those attempts have been inadequate, the issue remains unresolved and you have continued to report the problems to your landlord.

To bring a successful claim, you will generally need to show:

• That you reported the disrepair to your landlord
• That your landlord failed to carry out adequate repairs within a reasonable period
• That the disrepair has caused damage to your belongings or had an impact on your health or quality of life

A successful claim can result in compensation for the inconvenience and distress of living in substandard conditions and, with adequate supporting evidence, damage to personal belongings. It can also result in a court order requiring your landlord to carry out the necessary work, which means you can pursue further damages if the repairs are not completed in time. 

f you are stuck in a cycle of failed repairs, there are some practical steps you can take immediately.

Keep Reporting – Every Time

Every time a repair fails or the problem returns, report it again in writing. Use email wherever possible so you have a clear paper trail. If your landlord operates an online portal, use it and keep screenshots of every submission.

It might feel futile, but this record of repeated reports is vital evidence if you later need to take legal action.

Document the Problem Thoroughly

Take photographs and videos showing the full extent of the disrepair. Make sure your footage is dated and update it each time the problem worsens or returns after a repair visit. If the issue is affecting your health, for example, causing respiratory problems, disturbed sleep or anything else that impacts your wellbeing, keep a note of that too.

Ask for Written Confirmation of Every Visit

When a contractor comes out, ask what work has been carried out and request written confirmation. If the visit results in no action or a temporary fix, make sure that is noted in your report to the landlord.

Escalate Your Complaint Formally

If repeated reports are not producing results, escalate to a formal complaint. Your landlord should have a published complaints procedure, so make sure you follow it and keep a record of every step you take.

Yes and this is something many tenants don’t realise. If your landlord’s failure to carry out adequate repairs has affected the day-to-day lives of you and your family, you may be entitled to financial compensation through a housing disrepair claim.

The amount you could receive depends on factors including the severity of the disrepair, how long it has been ongoing, the impact on your wellbeing and any financial losses you have suffered as a result. Claims can run into thousands of pounds in cases where the disrepair has been serious and long-standing.

At Liberay Legal, we handle housing disrepair claims on a no win, no fee basis. That means there is no financial risk to you in getting advice and finding out where you stand.

At Liberay Legal, our specialist housing disrepair team has helped tenants across the UK hold their councils and housing associations to account.

We know how exhausting it is to keep chasing repairs that never get done properly. We also know that many tenants feel they have no real options, or worry about the consequences of making a claim against their landlord. Our job is to take that weight off your shoulders.

We will review your situation, explain your rights clearly and let you know whether you have a claim worth pursuing, all at no cost to you upfront.

Your landlord sending people out who don’t fix anything is not something you have to put up with. The law gives you real rights and those rights are there to be used.

If you have been reporting the same problem for weeks, months or years and nothing has truly been resolved, it is time to get legal advice.

Get in touch with Liberay Legal today to speak with one of our housing disrepair specialists. We’re here to help you get the safe, well-maintained home you are entitled to.

Contact us here or call 03330 115 105.